TRENDS IN EDUCATION

A trend is a shift or tendency within a system, for example schools, that is likely to grow in importance and influence how the system operates. Examples include economic developments, changes in society or in employment, or in attitudes and behaviour. Some trends are opportunities, others disruptive, a challenge or threat; some turn out to be a short-lived novelty (an innovation can develop into a trend, or die out), others slow-burning, even barely noticeable but seismic and enduring over the long term. Many trends are of course outside the control of schools, but others can be taken into account in school development planning and designing effective teaching and learning. A trend may emerge in one country but not another, another may be global.

A trend can also be related to the emergence of technologies that potentially support change in education institutions and in the organisation of learning; for example, 1:1 computing (using tablets), or improving internet access (e.g. in every classroom and not just a computer lab). However, a technological trend does not in itself cause educational change, but can be a necessary condition for innovation in teaching and learning.

Some key trends

Outlined below are a number of trends in educational technology and practice that, consensus suggests, will have an impact on teaching and learning in the next five years.

Useful resources

LangOER (2014 – 2016)

LangOER (2014 – 2016) is a European network focused on enhancing the linguistic and cultural components of OER (open educational resources) by offering OER in less used languages and by enhancing sustainability through OER reuse.

Open University UK

Innovating Pedagogy 2014: Produced using a similar methodology to the Horizon K-12 reports, the report examines: Massive open social learning, Learning design informed by analytics, Flipped classroom, Bring your own devices, Learning to learn, Dynamic assessment, Event-based learning, Learning through storytelling, Threshold concepts and Bricolage.

Kennisnet, Netherlands

Technology compass for education (2014): Aimed at school leaders, describes technological innovations worldwide and considers their usefulness in addressing challenges in the field of education. The quantified self, smart buildings and do it yourself are said to be on the rise, and adaptive content, learning analytics and PLEs heading for Gartner's 'trough of disillusionment’.

The Survey of Schools: ICT in Education. A survey of students, head teachers and teachers on the availability and use, including opinions and attitudes, of ICT in schools: www.eun.org/observatory/surveyofschools